Canada earned its first-ever point at a FIFA World Cup on Thursday, playing Bosnia and Herzegovina to a 1-1 draw in the tournament's first match ever staged on Canadian soil.
The Group B opener drew a boisterous crowd to the newly expanded 43,000-seat Toronto Stadium, where fans in red filled the stands and pockets of Bosnia and Herzegovina supporters were scattered throughout the venue.
According to Global News, the visitors struck first. In the 21st minute, Bosnia and Herzegovina's Sead Kolasinac flicked the ball on from a corner and Jovo Lukic headed it into the net — the first goal scored on Canadian turf at this World Cup.
Canada's answer came late in the second half. Substitute Cyle Larin, on the pitch for just two minutes, tipped the ball into the corner of the net in the 79th minute to level the score and energize the Toronto crowd.
A milestone for Canadian soccer
The draw carries historical weight for a program still chasing its first World Cup victory. Canada appeared at the 1986 and 2022 tournaments and lost all six of its matches, failing to score in 1986 and managing only two goals in three games in 2022.
Canada, ranked 30th by FIFA, qualified automatically as a co-host of the 2026 tournament. Bosnia and Herzegovina, ranked 65th, earned its spot by upsetting 12th-ranked Italy on penalty kicks in a playoff qualifier final in April.
Thursday's match was the first time the two nations had ever met in international football. Bosnia and Herzegovina's only previous World Cup appearance came in 2014, when it beat Iran 3-1 but lost to Argentina and Nigeria.
Opening celebration in Toronto
The night began with a Canadian opening ceremony, as Indigenous groups performed at midfield around a golden soccer ball. Canadian singers Alessia Cara, Jessie Reyez, Nora Fatehi and Vegedream took the stage, and Alanis Morissette sang the national anthem before kickoff.
The 104-game tournament opened Thursday with Mexico facing South Africa and Korea facing Czechia in Mexico City. Canada is hosting 13 games in total across Toronto and Vancouver.
Canada now travels west for its next Group B match against Qatar on June 18 at BC Place in Vancouver. Bosnia and Herzegovina heads to Los Angeles Stadium the same day to face Switzerland.
